Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

Prophetic Opportunity

Spirit ofprophecy. Every believer has the potential to bring a simple prophetic thought or word to the local church for the purpose of edifi cation, exhortation or comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). Scripture does not say we all will prophesy, but it opens to all the door of invitation. It is a matter of being in the manifest presence of Him who is the great Prophet, being impressed by the Holy Spirit and then exercising faith for manifestation. The expression spirit of prophecy comes from Revelation 19:10 equat ing "the testimony of Jesus" with "the spirit of prophecy." Many believ ers have discovered that from time to time the Holy Spirit comes on a con gregation as a mantle of prophetic anointing. This unique presence of the Spirit "is so manifest that anybody that will exercise a measure of faith can, under this anointing, bring forth a prophetic utterance." 12 The spirit of prophecy enables those to prophesy who do not have the gift of prophecy or the office of a prophet. 13 The wonderful presence of the Lord comes whenever He chooses to send it, but a church that worships fervently in the Spirit will generate more frequent times like this, for God delights in the praises of His peo ple. Also, the greater the presence of prophetic ministries, the more like lihood that this anointing will occur. A person without a prophetic min istry may prophesy in this setting, but it will be simple thoughts that God has brought to mind that deal with encouragement, comfort and exhortation. This category, as I perceive it, is not the residing "gift" ( charism) of prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:10) but rather a spontaneous spiritual man ifestation that causes the person to share simple, inspired thoughts to the congregation. 14 All the following admonitions are from 1 Corinthians 14 (emphasis added): • "I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edi fying" (verse 5). • "If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all" (verse 24). • "You can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted" (verse 31). ■ 184 • "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (verse 1).